Darlington bounced back to form in style on Saturday and now the club's fringe players have been challenged to raise their standards if they want a place in the team.

After signing four players in a month, some of the squad are facing a crucial period and assistant manager Mark Proctor has thrown down the gauntlet to the those watching from the sidelines.

In the reserves yesterday, several players were staking their claim for a return to first-team action but they went down 2-0 at Notts County - the second-string's fourth league game without a win this season.

Michael Price, Ian Clark, Mark Convery, Clark Keltie and Chris Hughes all had lengthy runs in the first-team last season and all played yesterday, while injured Neil Wainwright (hamstring) is also waiting in the wings alongside Craig Russell.

The arrival of Craig Hignett, Alun Armstrong, Clyde Wijnhard and Adolofo Gregorio has further reduced the fringe players' chances of a recall and Proctor said: "We're looking for some sort of positive response from the players not in the team.

"I expect to see a positive attitude, players rolling their sleeves up wanting to get back in. But if they're still on the bench in a few weeks I imagine players are going to be upset, which I understand.

"But they've got to show us the right attitude and once they're in the team we want consistency.

"We've said that if players show consistency for the full 90 minutes they'll stay in the team. If not, they'll feel the repercussions and some players are suffering from that now by being on the bench.

"Signing new players has strengthened the squad and put what were first-team players into the second team. It remains to be seen how those players handle that. Are they going to be happy on the bench? Are they going to fight for their place? Or will they want to be away to somewhere where they think they're going to be guaranteed a first-team place?

"Our bench on Saturday was very strong, but whether those players are prepared to stay there is up to them."

Canadian centre-back Tyler Hughes was expected to play at Meadow Lane yesterday but couldn't get international clearance but the team included young midfielders Adrian Webster and Jason St Juste, who have both signed one-month contracts.

Two second-half goals from former Cardiff City striker Gavin Gordon were enough to beat Quakers.

Darlington: Price, Chris Hughes, Mason, Poole, Gibson, Coghlan, Webster, Clark, Convery, Keltie, St Juste. Subs: Molyneux (gk), McCloud, Parkin, Bulford.

* Defender David McGurk, on loan at York City, broke ribs during a 2-1 defeat at Morecambe on Tuesday night.

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